On Education [Harps]

[Bee]

Phaedra understood social anxiety perfectly in theory but never really in practice, even as she was watching someone acting exceptionally awkward. What some people liked to call Esterberry snobbery, Phaedra knew to be merely Esterberry self-confidence. Where the academic was concerned, at least, they knew no fear and often as not no humility. Phaedra herself knew no fear in most areas of life, except the appropriate ones, like facing psychotic Corvies.

She made reassuring noises. "If that's too much for you, I'd be more than happy to give you some pointers on interpersonal domination. There's nothing sweeter than conquering your opposition!" She was lost for a moment in her days of debate team glory before settling back into a more reserved manner. She sipped away the last of her tea. "Eighty percent of it is just projecting the right calm, commanding aura. You'll learn. You can be terrified as much as you want as long as you don't show it. So chin up!"

[Harpsdesire]

Phaedra seemed basically unfazed by her nervous demeanor, which Dania actually found somewhat reassuring. She listened to the sugar glider with her ears pricked forward in an attitude more interested and less timid than she usually displayed. As much as she was an intimidating figure, Phaedra was also turning out to be surprisingly sweet and helpful.

Although any sort of domination was probably beyond the shy Torquehelm and she had little desire to concur much of anything, the overall idea of confidence made sense. "A few tips would be, ah, appreciated." She murmured, attempting with very little success to project a "calm, commanding aura". What she achieved was more a of an awkward, wooden aura with undertones of terror. So far this whole confidence thing seemed to be rather more difficult than Phaedra claimed. "I'll try to practice." her voice quavered apologetically.

She would try not to show terror, but she had a sinking feeling that Esterberry admissions counselors might be rather like wild banders: they could smell your fear.

[Bee]

"First thing first," Phaedra said, seeing a teachable moment and seizing upon it. She tried her best at a gentle tone, because sending Dania into a coma of fear would do neither of them any good. "Don't say you'll try to do things; do them. Don't make apologies or excuses. It makes you look soft. If you fumble, move on. If you fumble grievously, look thoughtful and mildly contrite, and then move on. None of this trembling business. Act like you belong there."

Phaedra had actually been in a primary school that believed proper posture was essential to absorbing information, and sat up straight as she had remembered being taught to do, letting her eyes be attentive but her mouth relaxed. "Something a little like this would probably suit. Calm and in control." She took another sip of tea. Ah! She was down to the glob of honey at the bottom of the cup; her favorite part.

[Harpsdesire]

Dania was listening, at least, and made an attempt to draw herself up to match Phaedra's posture. It was little harder than it looked, at least for a girl with her leg tied to her back. Sitting up straighter pulled her bound limb into an even more uncomfortable than usual position, but she supposed she could bear it long enough to make a good impression on Admissions. After all, pain was a Torque's lot in life, and far be it from her to shirk it.

At least the 'thoughtful and mildly contrite' part was easy: it was more or less how she looked all the time. "Like this?" Dania was seated in a passable imitation of her impromptu tutor's information-gathering pose, although her ears still lay back against her head in an attitude of apprehension, or possibly submission.

Social domination was not at all in Dania's nature, and a small, timorous part of her was wondering if she could still back out and return to Torquehelm without hurting Phaedra's feelings. Probably not, she decided. The sugar glider did not at all seem like the type to take it lightly when someone wasted her time.

Dania told herself quite firmly that she would just have to try harder. She made a concerted effort to prick her ears and whiskers forward with an expression of interest and smiled nervously at Phaedra.

[Bee]

"That was much better," Phaedra said, pleased, and the foot only made it seem a little funny. Ah, Torquehelms and their bindings...One day, there would be a real scientific way to understand and conquer this supposed curse, and it would be a glorious triumph for knowledge and the liberation of Torquehelms everywhere. She would have to have Dania practice more if it was going to seem fully fluid and natural, in addition, but there was plenty of time for that. Perhaps she could contact a few people and stage little mock-encounters, so Dania could work on her thick skin and presentation...

But for now she supposed she should cover the basics. And get her some of the forms so she could even make it to the interview stage. "Try again without the trepidation! You'll of course have to know what to say, too, but that can be a lesson for another time...More tea?"

[Harpsdesire]

Dania's smiled relaxed and became more genuine. She was rather childishly pleased with Phaedra's praise. In her upbringing, compliments had been sparse, giving her the somewhat distorted notion that they were markers of actual accomplishment or high opinion, rather than just a common social nicety. She seemed encouraged by her quick progress, which inspired an air of more confidence.

"How do you do?" Dania practiced, pretending that her hostess was an admissions counselor. The rat felt markedly silly doing so, but it was worth a little humiliation in front of someone she was coming to consider a friend to avoid looking like an idiot when she met the college officials. They were probably a snobby bunch, looking for any reason to turn down an anxious out-of-realm student with dubious social skills. To imagine that her entire future rested on some high-ranking Esterberry with an inflated ego... It was a terrifying thought. She smiled, again nervously, and accepted the offer of tea.

Being confidant and socially dominating was certainly hard work. Dania did her best not to look discouraged as she once again thanked Phaedra for her advice. As frightening as this whole thing was, it would be even worse if she was totally on her own.

[Bee]

Phaedra, with cup in hand, thought a moment about expounding the virtues of tea as a topic of light conversation, but thought better of it--at least for the time being--as tea could be as volatile an issue as, say, war or one's metaphysical beliefs. Phaedra, of course, knew the correct way to prepare a perfect cup of Esterberry tea, but the chance of stumbling upon a tea dissident was perhaps too much of a risk for someone with Dania's current level of social anxiety.

She responded instead to the query: "Quite well, thank you. Do make yourself comfortable." She paused. "But you really only want to pretend to make yourself comfortable. That's a trap to lull you into a false sense of security. Ah! I nearly forgot. Do you have reports of your academic success from your teachers in Torquehelm? There is a certain small amount of leniency accorded to those who did not grow up in Esterberry, because we know education can be a bit...informal...elsewhere, but it would really do you a world of good to have concrete evidence of prior academic success and recommendations. There are tests, of course, but..." But she was getting ahead of herself. One matter at a time!

[Harpsdesire]

Esterberry interviewers would try to trap her... Dania was disheartened to hear this, but not particularly surprised. This could be the one time it was an advantage that she was almost never comfortable, and especially not while in the presence of a judgmental stranger.

When Phaedra mentioned records of previous schooling, she nodded, happy that she seemed to have gotten at least one thing right. "I have all my school transcripts, a few projects, some of my better projects and papers... a few letters of recommendation from my former teachers. I didn't know what I needed, so I just brought... everything..." She smiled bashfully. Papers didn't take up much room and fit nicely between the rows of books that made her small amount of luggage oddly heavy, so Dania didn't hold back when it came to bringing all the academic paperwork she thought she could ever possibly need.

The whole situation was most overwhelming, and she put down her teacup, suddenly feeling a little queasy from nerves. She glanced at Phaedra nervously. Tests were... they were hard. She was a good student, but too much pressure had a tendency to cause her mind to go oddly blank and her stomach uncomfortably tight. Even a simple multiple choice test could defeat Dania if her anxiety was high enough, even on a subject she excelled in. This was absolutely a liability in Esterberry, and not something she would readily admit.

[Bee]

Well, that was a delight and a relief. It was also an encouraging sign; if one knew how to be prepared, one had already won most of the battle before it was even fought. Rather like studying, really, and Phaedra knew all about obsessive preparation.

"Great," she said, approvingly. "We'll just need to get it nice and organized. And make copies, of course, so we can send them out to sundry universities...I suppose we can really start assembling a list of places you want to apply to tomorrow, perhaps give ourselves an informal tour of a couple. Noel is really quite grand." She paused, mulling over all the options. "And while we wait to see about interviews, we can get you talking to people. I know a few people who would be more than happy to create a stressful social environment for you to work through..."

For the rest of today it would probably be best to let Dania relax, though.

[Failpost. Feel free to jump around and gloss things as you see fit, Harps. XD <3]

[Harpsdesire]

Dania felt surprisingly warmed by Phaedra's approval. She smiled and hesitantly retrieved the cup of tea, although she didn't sip it. "I'm eager to get started and see the realm for myself. I should start looking for a place of my own soon as well, I would hate to impose on your hospitality." A tour of Noel sounded lovely, and the rat nodded her enthusiasm, "I would like to tour a few, if that's possible."

The smile on her face faltered somewhat at Phaedra's final words. People who would be more than happy to stress her out? Who were these people? Esterberries were just... inexplicable, sometimes.

Dania was up early the next morning. She hadn't slept especially well, her first night really and truly away from home was fraught with homesickness and nerves. The rat took a moment to perform the little grooming that her short satiny coat required and hoped she looked better than she felt as she made her way to the kitchen.